Presenting at LINK 2016 – Katie Thorson

Presenting at LINK 2016 – Katie Thorson

As a young adult who can honestly say that finding a passion in life has actually been a struggle, I can also honestly say that LINK helped me realize my passion for the social sector.

I personally love speaking in front of people, but never have I ever competitively spoke or spoke for a prize. So, I was scared. But as I said all the way through grad school, “fake it ‘til you make it.” Here are a few questions I asked myself before I took the plunge:

Why should I apply for LINK?:

Well, I love what I do, I love what I am a part of, and I want more people to know about it. Whether I win or not, I can tell a lot of people at once all about the cause for which I fight. Also, in hindsight, it allowed me the opportunity to learn about aspects of the organization that I never knew before. It deepened my own understanding of the great work we do.

Will it get in the way of me doing my job?:

No, it’s part of my job. As a person who works in the social sector, it is my duty, no matter which position in the organization I hold, to promote the cause and forward the mission.

What can I personally gain from this experience?:

Standard millennial question, some may say. But if I’m going to invest my time in something like this, I want to look at it from all angles. At the time, I had no idea how much I would gain from this experience. I learned that I can indeed be vulnerable in front of a lot of strangers (something I shuttered at before this), I learned that I can inspire people with my words and my experiences, and most importantly, I learned that the social sector is right where I belong and I don’t have to fake it anymore.

I encourage you to set aside your personal fears and instead replace them with your love for your organization and apply for LINK today. See you there!